Under head coach Sam Washington, Nate Poole was named the North Carolina A&T football team’s wide receivers coach on August 1, 2020. When head coach Vincent Brown took over the program in January 2023, he retained Poole as the wide receivers coach and recruiting coordinator.
The Aggies did not have a 2020 season because of the COVID-19 pandemic; therefore, Poole’s first season coaching the Aggies on the field came during the 2021 season. Eight different receivers scored touchdowns that season. In addition, three Aggies had 20 or more receptions, including Ron Hunt, who earned a tryout with the Carolina Panthers.
In 2022, Zachary Leslie had four 100-yard receiving games to break the program record for career 100-yard receiving games with 10. Leslie earned second-team All-Big South Conference honors in 2022, ranking third in the conference in yards per reception (16.92), sixth in receptions per game (4.1), third in receiving yards per game (69.6), fifth in receiving TDs and sixth in receiving yards.
Poole arrived at A&T with more than 10 years of coaching experience. He spent the previous three seasons with the Wingate football program as their wide receivers coach. He also had some equipment manager duties.
In 2019, Poole and the Bulldogs won a school-record 10 games. As a result, Wingate advanced to the NCAA Division II playoffs for the third consecutive season. Poole mentored All-SAC wide receivers Jalen Brooks and BJ Muckelvene during the 2019 campaign. Brooks caught 35 passes for 751 yards and six scores, while Muckelvene had 33 grabs for 581 yards and eight TDs.
Seven different Bulldogs caught a touchdown pass in 2018. Wide receiver JT Stokes led the Bulldogs with 39 receptions for 811 yards and nine touchdowns. In addition, Poole’s wide receivers helped quarterback Shaw Crocker top the SAC charts in points responsible for (174).
Before his stint at Wingate, Poole spent two years as the wide receivers coach and special teams coordinator for Myers Park High School in Charlotte, N.C., under head coach Scott Chadwick. Poole also worked at other high schools in the Mecklenburg County area, such as Charlotte Latin, Cuthbertson, Marvin Ridge and Providence Day.
Poole also has NFL coaching experience with the Buffalo Bills (wide receiver coach intern) and the NFL Europa Rhine Fire (offensive assistant/wide receiver coach/passing game coordinator). Additionally, he served as the Brooklyn Bolts special teams coordinator/wide receiver coach and passing game coordinator. The Bolts played in the FXFL (experimental league).
Collegiately, Poole played football at Marshall University. Poole played in four bowl games at Marshall and earned first-team All-Mid-American Conference honors three times. He had 189 career receptions for 2,556 yards and 32 touchdowns.
After starring at Marshall, Poole played on the NFL level, where he spent six years – four with the Arizona Cardinals and two with the New Orleans Saints. He earned numerous team awards, including 15 special teams player of the game awards and one offensive player of the game recognition with the Cardinals. In addition, Poole secured two special teams player of the game honors with the Saints.
Poole and his wife, Neville, have three daughters: Nia Poole, Natalie Poole and Shaunita Lee.
